Legal Aid Ontario Launches a Family Law Information Program to help Ontarians with the Family Law Court System

by familyllb on March 11, 2011

Legal Aid Ontario Launches a Family Law Information Program to help Ontarians with the Family Law Court System

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has launched the Family Law Information Program (FLIP), a free online program that will help Ontarians navigate what can be a confusing family law court system. Available through LAO’s website, FLIP educates Ontarians on the practical and legal issues that former spouses might face during divorce or separation proceedings.

Using both audio and text, the program guides visitors through topics such as legal definitions, information about legal representation, dispute resolution, and the family court process. The program uses plain, easy-to-understand language, and is available in English and French. Given the often emotionally charged nature of family law disputes, the program also includes sections on the effects of relationship breakdown, and information on parenting after separation.

Developed by a group of lawyers at Legal Aid Ontario, FLIP is based on information contained in the Ministry of the Attorney General’s new Mandatory Information Program, which is currently rolling out across the province. FLIP can help all Ontarians, regardless of income, learn about their legal options. It allows them to make informed choices about how to resolve their issues, whether outside of, or through, the family courts.

There is a lot amount of information available about family law matters—online and elsewhere—but the goal of FLIP is to make the legal process more accessible by breaking down topics into easy-to-navigate steps, and providing examples and anecdotes where necessary. It takes about two hours to complete the whole program, but the flexible online format (FLIP automatically bookmarks the section last visited) means visitors can use the program when it is convenient for them.

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About FamilyLLB

FamilyLLB is written by Russell Alexander, a divorce and family law lawyer based in Ontario, Canada. For nearly twenty years, Russell's firm has helped clients who are going through a separation or divorce. You can find more of Russell's online commentary via Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, or on the firm's Facebook page.